Ruth Hayes Morphis Akins

Ruth H. M. Akins was born January 16, 1916 in Humbolt, Tennessee to Nathaniel and Minnie Hayes. She was the second of 5 children born to her parents. She also had 7 sisters and brothers from her father’s previous marriage. Ruth Akins departed the life on October 18, 2019 at Crestpark Nursing Home in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

She was raised at Arkansas Post, Arkansas and attended school at Arkansas Post, also called the Little Red Schoolhouse. She moved to Stuttgart in 1927 and became a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church. In later years Ruth Akins met and married Charlie Morphis and moved to Gillett, Arkansas where she joined Bethel A.M.E. Church. She worked faithfully and remained a loyal member of Bethel Gillett until her passing.

Affectionately known as Ma-Ruth, Ruth Akins was an outstanding A.M.E. church member. Her involvement in her church existed on all 5 levels: the Local, Presiding Elder, Conference, Episcopal and Connectional. She attended meetings and had Christian responsibilities on all levels. She served as Conference Y.P.D. Director and W.M.S. President of the East Northeast Arkansas Annual Conference. Ruth Akins attended Quadrenniums of the Women’s Missionary Society and General Conferences of the A.M.E. Church as long as we can remember. She traveled to South Africa and Jamaica in her church travels, as well as all parts of the continental United States. She was among the Elite of Christian Servants and will be tremendously missed. She received an Honorary Doctorate from Shorter College and served as a Shorter College Trustee for many years.

She was also active politically and was a member of the Democratic Party. In addition, she was a Worthy Matron of the Eastern Stars.

Ruth Akins was preceded in death by her mother Minnie Hayes, husbands Charlie Morphis and Rev. C. C. Akins, sisters Ola Blair and Annie McNeil, and brothers Buster Hayes and Walter Hayes, son Nathaniel McFarland, and grandchildren Joyce Noble, George Noble, Timothy Noble, and great grandson Antonio Noble.

Ruth Akins leaves to mourn her passing her daughter Delmarie Noble of Gillett, AR; grandchildren Vickie (Napoleon) Davis of Stuttgart, AR, Marion (Theartis) Ricks of Sherwood, AR, Laura Phillips of Stuttgart, AR, and Charles Noble, Delores Noble, Michael Noble, Tammy Ackles, and Marsha Noble, all of Gillett, AR, Terri Noble of San Antonio, TX, Minnie Noble of Dewitt, AR, Traci Noble, of Gillett, AR, and Michelle (Wade) Thorpe, Michael McFarland and Melvin McFarland, all of New York; 31 great grandchildren; 22 great, great grandchildren and a great host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and many, many, many dear friends.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruth Hayes Morphis Akins, please visit our floral store.